Brassiere and breastpad



Dec 1938. w. ROSENTHAL BRAssIfiRE AND BREAST PAD Filed Sept. 17, 1935 INVENTOR. WILLIAM ROsENTHAL. BY%

"* ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27,1938

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIEBE AND BREAST PAD William Rosenthal, New York, N. Y., assignor to Maiden Form Brassi ere Company, Inc., New

York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application September 17, 1935, Serial No. 40,890

' Claims. (c1. 2-42) This invention relates broadly to a. new brasmerely illustrative and hence the detailed descripsiere construction. tion thereof is not to be taken as limiting the One of the objects of this invention is the invention itself. creation of a brassire which is adapted to sup- This invention resides substantially in theparts 5 port the bust in natural position. as well as the combination, construction, arrange- 6 Another object of this invention is the creation ment and relative location of par all as Will of a brassiere embodying means whereby a wearer appear more fully hereinafter.

naturally having a small and meager bustby Referring to the drawing, in-which the same wearing same may be made to appear to have an reference numerals are used throughout the sev- 10 ample and satisfactory configuration of bust line. eral views to indicate the same or similar parts, 10

Another object of this invention is the creation it will be found that:

of a brassiere embodying means contained in the Fig. 1 represents a front elevational view of a breast receiving pockets for also receiving and ss re mplo ng he n v l p n ples of my holding bust forms or pads which are pre-shaped construction; and formed-so as to simulate the shape and f rm Fig. 2 represents a rear elevational view thereof a partial breast and which are adapted to complete the filling out of said breast receiving a 3 ep s s se o w. taken along LII pockets. the section' line 3-3 in Fig. 1, looking in the di- Another object of this invention is the creation e o 0f e a ow of a brassiere of such construction and'embody- 4 is a de l pl n View of a partly stitched 20 ing such appurtenances that, when worn by a internal breast p d element, and substantially fiat chested individual, will lend to Fi 5 s a ar p rsp t ve view f my n v l the wearer an unnoticeable external appearance brasslere construction W b s pa in p of naturally having a normal bust configuration. l h wn in W r n position.

A still further object of this invention is the It is We known a heretofore Women 25 creation of a novel breast form or pad which is urally having small n mea er b eas s 0r avflrm, yet relatively soft, and which maybe readily, ing an abnormal inequality between their breasts firmly and securely supported by and carried in n r pe t i or v n l ckin a brea or a breast receiving brassiere pocket to unnoticeb s because of a surgical p t on 0 t e ably supplement the wearers breasts and yield l ke, h v been compelled to i r s ffer the 30 'an external appearance of ample and proper bust natural embarassment of having a deficient and contour and which form or pad is readily sepaunsatisfactory bust configuration or else attempt rable fromthe breast receivlngbrassiere pocket to disguise such condition y the employment for purposes of cleaning; repairing, mending and o ar adapted to ide t e r true breast the like. configuration. 35

A still further object of this invention is the -Such individuals, of necessity, have often recreation of a breast form or pad having a mois sorted to many unsatisfactory measures such as ture-proof outer surface so constructed that said either the employ of loose and ill-fitting form or pad may be readily washed or dampened blouses, waists and dresses adapted to completely 40 by perspiration without wetting or dampening hide by flowing lines their breast configuration 40 the material contained-there within and accordor else encircling theirbody with an overheating ingly, surface dried and used without the loss multiplicity of g rment in or e t in by of time and shape which would be attendant upon a plurality of thicknesses of fabric an artificial the drying out of moisture from the interior of external appearance of satisfactory breast conthe body thereof. figuration. Such individuals, however, have not, 45

4 A still further object of the invention is the of course, worn brassieres but rather have been creation of a brassire having breast receiving deprived of the advantages attaching to the pockets therein constructed of irregular shaped proper breast support derivable therefrom. Inpieces to provide a comfortable and comformable deed, n0 comfortable, Secure and cto y arrangement, without shirring, which might brassire previous hereto has been created which 50 cause irritation to the wearer's skin. could be worn by such an individual.

Various other objects and advantages of the Moreover, as is further well known, the trend 3 invention than those hereinabove mentioned will in present day style is towards accentuation of appear more fully hereinafter. It is to be unthe natural breast and body lines so as to em- 'derstood, that the specific forms shown are phasize the inherent beauty in the natural curves of the well developed human form. Thus a woman having small breasts finds herself outmoded, unable often to wear and make use of current styles particularly of outer wearing ap- 6 parel and accordingly unable to keep in step with current fashion.

Such devices as have been created heretofore in attempts to ameliorate this situation and supplement the form and figure of the wearer have proven clumsy, crude, insecure against slipping, often extremely uncomfortable, wholly impractical, as well as expensive and generally unsatisfactory and to say the-least, ultimately, by far moreembarrassing to the wearer than being entirely without any such artificial devices.

It is the purpose of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel type of brassiere of novel pocket construction which contains means in either or both breasts receiving pockets for detachably yet securely and firmly holding against slipping a novel pre-shaped and formed breast pad to supplement the wearer's bust configuration to the desired extent and which pad once mounted in the breast receiving pocket is secure against slipping about or out of the pocket and requires but little further attention. a

As will be apparent hereafter, my novel brassiere with breast pads once in place-may be worn as a composite unit, without the pads being in any way externally noticeable. An almost life-like shape of substantially natural resilient firm softness is produced thereby and externally an observer is unable to determine whether the breast line of the wearer is actual or artificial.

The novel breast pads employed, as will be disclosed, are covered with soft moisture-proof material and the brassiere is so constructed that its inner surface is soft throughout and without raised seams or of other irritation producing con- 40 struction.

Referring now to the drawing for a specific example of my novel construction it will be noted particularly from Figs. 1 and 2 that I have shown a brassiere having two breast receiving pockets I and 2, secured together along a line of seam 3,

and having back bands 4 and 5 secured to the free ends thereof. Attached to the free end of back band 5 is an elastic section 6 which acts as a back section and which in turn has at the free end thereof 1 a plurality of fasteners 8 adapted to cooperative engagement with hooks 9 carried on the free end of back band 4 so as to secure the brassiere about the body of the wearer.

Behind fasteners 8 is a small piece of fabric to adapted to over-lap the fasteners and hooks, 8 and 9, when engaged, to separate same from the body of the wearer and keep same from contact with the skin of the wearer thus eliminating all possible consequent irritation that might be caused thereby.

Attached to the upper edges of each of the pockets i and 2 are shoulder straps II and i2 which at their free ends are secured to back bands 4 and 5 by elastic members i3 and I4.

It will be noted that each of the breast receiving pockets l and 2 are preshaped and given pocket and cup-like form by Joining together an upper piece of fabric I5 having a shallow sub- 70 stantially V-like shape and a lower piece of fabric it, having a co-operative and correspondingly shallow substantially V-like out along a line of stitch II which may be termed a bent line of stitch because of the position thereof when 15' the pockets are in wearing position.

Turning next to theinside of the pockets, it will be noted particularly from Figs. 2and 5 that an upstanding piece of fabric 18 having a substantially semi-circular lower edge is secured in each breast receiving pocket by a semi-circular line of stitching l9 but at a sufilcient distance from the apex of the pocket to form with the brassiere pocket fabric a snug breast pad receiving cavity or receptacle, the distance from the apex depending upon the height of the breast receiving pad to'be received and held. The pieces of fabric l8 as particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 are adapted to upstand from the fabric of the breast pockets and are formed with sloping or tapering edges 20 adjacent their straight upper edges 2| so that the breast pads may be held by dovetailing in position as hereinafter described. It will also be noted that the line of stitching I9 is continued along edges 20 so that they also are stitched to the fabric of the breast receiving pockets thereby leaving only the upper edges 2| free.

Turning next to Fig. 3 it will be noted that each breast pad 22 is generally more or less conical in shape and may be shaped to give any desired natural configuration. I prefer to make same of an outer moisture-proof encasing sheet of soft rubberized material or the like 23w'ithin which are disposed a plurality of layers of cotton or the like 24 and a plurality of layers of felt or the like 25. As shown in Fig. 3 there are three layers of cotton or the like 24, the largest being adjacent the bottom of the moisture-proof encasing 23, the next largest being against the first mentioned cotton layer and the last being relatively small and being adjacent the second mentioned cotton layer on one side and adjacent the first and smallest layer of felt or thd like 25 on its remainingside. It will be further noted that each of the three layers of cotton or the like 24 are more or less relatively flat compared to the felt elements 25 which are cup-like in form. Turning to Fig. 4 it will be noted a typical felt element 25 is there shown. Each felt element is composed of two members 28 being provided with lines of substantially V-cut 21 at both sides. As shown, the lines of cut 21 on the left side of element 25 in Fig. 4 have been brought together by stitching 28 while the lines of cut 21 appearing on the right side of element 25 in Fig. 4 have not yet been sewed together. By bringing the lines of cut 21 together the felt elements 25 are caused to assume a cup-like formation as may be distinctly observed in the sectional view shown in Fig. 3. By causing the cup-like elements 25 to successively increase in size from the center of the pad and by fitting one cup like element 25 within the next larger cup-like element and thereby nesting said elements, a conical pad-like element is built up. It is to be understood, of course, that the largest cup-like element 25 will be next adjacent to and within the outer moisture-proof encasing sheet of rubberized material or the like 23.

It will be further understood thatthe outer felt cup-like element 25 may be even secured to the encasing moisture-proof element 23 by a line of stitching 29. If the encasing sheet element 23 is made of stitched together pieces of rubberized material then the line of stitching 29 used to base thereof so as to secure the edges together and permit of binding.

It will also be noted from Fig. 3 that by appropriate stitching and folding the upper straightedge 2| of the elements i8 may be appropriately bound, stitched and finished as shown at 3| and that likewise the upper and lower edges 32 and 33 of the brassiere pocket are appropriately stitched, bound and finished so as to givea smooth and even fiinish to the complete garment.

It will be understood, of course, that the selection of materials to go within the breast pad depends upon the degree of softness and resiliency that it is desired be imparted thereto. It will also be understood, that I have found that a very desirable pad well adapted to attain the purposes of my invention will be produced by following the constructions which I have just outlined. However, I desire it to be understood, that it is within the spirit of my invention that other pads embodying different materials or a difierent number of layers or even possibly of somewhat difierent shape or construction might likewise be employed with desirable results and I accordingly, therefore, do not desire to be limited to any specific material, shape or number of layers in the construction of the breast pad. t

It will be further noted from the foregoing that the breast pad that I have shown while substantially generally conical in form, has a more or less oval-like shaped base as will be readily apparent from Figs. 1, 2 and 5 which base has more or less sharply defined ends or points 34 adapted to fit within the point-like recesses formed by the tapering edges 20 of the circular elements l8 with the fabric of pockets I and 2 so as to dovetail the pad against slipping out of the breast-pad-receivingreceptacle formed by the fabric of the breast .receiving pockets and the element l8.

Having thus described my novel construction, I will now briefly describe the manner in which the same is used:

In this connection it will be understood that a woman having small breasts will naturally select and purchase a proper sized brassire and pads in conformance with her needs. the grament, the woman may, to care for abnormalities, desire to remove but one breast pad. In order to do this she need only grasp the upper edge of the pad and squeeze same slightly between her thumb and forefinger so as to compress same sufiiciently to avoid the dovetailing effect caused by the shape of the edge of the base of the pad and edges 20. When this has been done she may readily slip one of the breast pads out of the breast-pad-receiving receptacle and may then use the remaining breast receiving pocket to receive a large and normal single breast. This is true inasmuch as the element l8 would not seriously interfere with the employment of the breast receiving pocket to receive a large and normal breast, it being clear that said element in the absence of a breast receiving pad, may be readily forced down against the fabric l6 of pockets -lor2.

While, of course, the brassiere I have described may be used with but asingle breast pad by an individual having such needs, I intend the same to be primarily used with both pads by individuals having two small breasts, the proportions of which it is desired be amplified.

It is to be understood further that in such case the wearers small breasts will fit within the breast receiving pockets directly behind the element' I8 and since both the element I8 and the pad 22 are Having secured conformable and soft, an appropriate concavity or depression in the bottom of pad 22 such as is shown by the depression or concavity at 35 in Fig. 3 will result, so that the outline of the actual breast will be closely met by thebottom of the pad without external noticeable effect. The breast pads I have disclosed are more or less resilient in construction, and will return to and retain a substantially flat bottom when the rotundity of the wearers breast is removed from contact with the substantially fiat bottom thereof. These pads are also readily removeable from the pockets not only for the possible uses hereinbefore mentioned but also so that a wearer desiring to clean the garment may readily remove the pads, wash the brassire in the customary fashion, and, as will be readily understood, cleanse the pads by a mere washing over,- without fear of'dampening the absorbent materials contained within the moisture-proof enclosing casing.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the brassiere construction I have disclosed incorporates many features which are possible of general adaptation in brassires other than those containing breast pads. For instance, the pocket construction disclosed may obviously be conveniently and valuably employed in connection with all types of brassires.

Moreover, the construction herein disclosed might be satisfactorily and successfully employed in cases where surgical treatment of the breast has resulted in the complete removable of the whole of one or more breasts in which cases, the shape and size of the breast pad employed would have to be varied to meet the individual case. I

I am, of course, aware that many changes in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and I do not, therefore,

desire to be limitedto the exact details herein set forth by way of illustration, but rather to the spirit and scope of my invention as I define it in the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by and claim for United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment of the type described the combination of two fabric breast pockets secured together by stitching, each of said pockets being formed of an upper and a lower section of fabric secured together by a bent line of seam, a portion of fabric having a substantially semi-circular loweredge, a straight upper edge and straight side edges inwardly sloping from said lower edge to said upper edge to form point-like recesses, said portion of fabric being secured at and along said sloping edges and said lower edge to the lower section of fabric of the breast pocket by corresponding lines of stitching so as to form a breast pad receiving cavity with the fabric of each breast pocket and a breast pad adapted to fit within such cavity and having a bottom edge so formed that said pad is held against displacement by a dovetailing action between the sloping side edges of the fabric portion and the bottom closed in an outer moisture proof casing and has a soft conformable base resting against the portion of fabric secured in the pocket in which the pad is disposed said base and contiguous fabric being adapted to closely conform to the outline of the wearer's breast therebehind.

4. In a garment of the type described the combination of a fabric breast receiving pocket, a substantially vertical fabric wall having a curved lower edge, a substantially straight upper edge and straight side edges inwardly sloping from said lower edge to saidupper edge, said fabric wall being secured at and along said sloping side edges and said curved lower edge to the lower portion of the fabric of the breast receiving pocket by corresponding lines of stitching so as to 'form a breast pad receiving cavity having point like recesses and a breast pad adapted to fit within such cavity, said pad having the edge of its bottom surface so formed that said pad is held against displacement in said cavity and rein the apex oi. the breast receiving pocket, said pad receiving pocket having point-like recesses below its top and a restricted opening at its top, said opening'having a transverse width less than the transverse width 01' the portion of the pad pocket immediately below such opening, and a unitary, pliable, and compressible breast pad of a shape substantially like the forward portion of a female breast, said pad having a base formed with point-like ends adapted to insertion in and disposition within the aforementioned point-like recesses in the pad receiving pocket, and which ends, when not pressed together for purposes of inserting the pad into the pad receiving pocket are separated by a distance greater than the transverse width or the aforementioned restricted opening; said pad being adapted upon disposition in the pad pocket to fill out the apex of the breast receiving pocket; all with the aforementioned diflerences in widths resulting in the pad, whence once within the pad receiving pocket, being held against displacement by a dove-tailing eflect between the respective point-like ends of the base of said pad and the respective point-like recesses of the pad receiving pocket.

Wm-IAM ROSENTHAL. 

